It is no longer a secret that type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus is on the rise and affecting younger and younger populations. In the past it was called old age diabetes, but for our young people it certainly goes back to the time of the dinosaurs!

Another neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer's disease, is on the rise, so to speak.

Recent research on this brain condition suggests that this dementia is actually a variety of diabetes. Published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, a recent study conducted at Rhode Island Hospital (RIH) confirms that there is indeed brain insulin resistance and corresponding inflammation in subjects with Alzheimer's disease. This is why some researchers now call it "type 3 diabetes".

Dr. Suzanne de la Monte made this extremely interesting discovery. Her research shows that diabetes is intimately associated with several key neural factors involved in this dementia. Thus, the progression of Alzheimer's disease would result from a resistance of neurons to insulin. This resistance would in turn disrupt normal lipid metabolism. It appears that over time, lipids accumulate in the brain rather than being metabolized. This phenomenon would induce a chronic inflammation whose symptoms are similar to those commonly developed during Alzheimer's disease.

The results of this study should cause a rethink of current treatments for this type of dementia. Dr. de la Monte suggests that once a diagnosis is made with certainty, treatment efforts should be targeted at multiple actions, not just one as is currently the case. This vicious inflammatory cycle that causes the disease to progress must be broken. Attempting to restore a cellular response to insulin would reduce this insulin level, decrease the brain's toxin load, and restore an optimal and adequate cellular metabolism that would avoid producing new toxins. A few dietary tips can be helpful in preventing both insulin resistance and brain degeneration of all types.

Eat more beneficial saturated fatty acids like those provided by coconut oil.

Avoid taking statins to lower cholesterol levels. Many elderly people with Alzheimer's disease take statins to lower their cholesterol levels, and statins have been shown to promote and worsen the disease. In addition, they can cause diabetes. It has been proven that low cholesterol levels are harmful to health, because when you chemically remove bad fatty acids, you also reduce the level of good fatty acids. These "good" fatty acids are essential for the harmonious and optimal functioning of our nervous system.

Once and for all, it is essential to understand that the human body needs cholesterol to maintain health. High cholesterol levels that clog the arteries reflect a more general inflammatory problem. This phenomenon prevents the correct absorption and normal use of cholesterol. In other words, it is not the cholesterol itself that is the problem, as it is the result of a chronic inflammatory phenomenon. It is therefore necessary to act upstream on this inflammatory process.

Simply consuming more "good" saturated fats such as those in coconut oil can decrease the inflammatory problems that promote the progression of Alzheimer's. It can also increase the absorption of cholesterol by the brain. This promotes better neuronal functioning.

Once again, we see the erroneous functioning of the conventional medical system which for several decades has tended to ban saturated fats and reduce cholesterol. While science shows that the human body needs saturated fats and cholesterol, they are vital for maintaining optimal brain health.